This looks like a great deal for the Nationals. The 29 year-old Fister has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last three years. Additionally, he’s set to make just under $7 million in arbitration this year, and doesn’t hit free agency until 2016.

Adding Fister to a rotation that already features Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, and Jordan Zimmermann gives the Nationals the best rotation in baseball. After a disappointing 2013 season, they could be the favorites to win the NL East in 2014.

In exchange, the Tigers got a mediocre return. It certainly wasn’t anything close to what the Tampa Bay Rays got in return for James Shieldswhen they dealt him to the Kansas City Royals last offseason.

Lombardozzi is a 25 year-old infielder who has a .264/.297/.342 line in 714 major league plate appearances. Krol is a hard-throwing left-handed reliever who appeared in 32 games for the Nationals in 2013, with pedestrian numbers. He’s been a reliever for most of his professional career, and his struggles against right-handed hitters probably prevent him from starting.

Considering that the Rays got a top-five prospect in Wil Myers, and a major-league ready arm in Jake Odorizzifor two years of Shields, a backup infielder, a lefty reliever and a potential middle of the rotation guy appears to be a disappointing return for three years of Doug Fister.Sure, that was probably a huge overpay by the Royals, but the Tigers should have been able to do better.

Time will tell, but this certainly looks like a steal for the Nationals.

Chris Moran is a third-year law student and assistant baseball coach at Washington University in St. Louis. He played baseball at Wheaton College where he donned the tools of ignorance. Contact him via our contact page or follow him on Twitter @hangingslurves